Fine Gael Dublin Senator, Catherine Noone, has today (Thursday) strongly criticised what she described as the exorbitant rates being charged by some city centre hotels for accommodation for the weekend of the Garth Brooks’ concerts in Croke Park.

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has written to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), urging it to take issues such as hard water into account when it sets rates for water charges, which are due to be introduced at the end of this year. Deputy Doherty also raised the issue in a Parliamentary Question to the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan TD.

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has today (Thursday) welcomed clarification from the HSE on how it plans to improve the ambulance service it provides in the North East region. Deputy Doherty received the update at a meeting with local TDs, the Minister for Health, James Reilly TD, and Martin Dunne, the Director of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to discuss issues with the service in the region.

Cork South Central Fine Gael TD and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, Jerry Buttimer, has today (Thursday) said that the launch of the single dedicated Child and Family Agency represents a significant reform and will ensure a more cohesive delivery of services.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, T.D., today confirmed that Part 3 of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 (No. 32 of 2013), which increases the monetary jurisdiction of the Circuit Court and District Court, will take effect from the 3rd of February 2014. The Act increases the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court to €75,000 and of the District Court to €15,000.

Alan Shatter TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, today published the General Scheme of a Children and Family Relationships Bill.

Fine Gael Limerick TD, Patrick O’Donovan, has today (Thursday) strongly criticised members of the Opposition for failing to be present in the Dáil chamber earlier for four stages of the European Parliament Elections Amendment Bill.

Speaking at an address at the University of Sarajevo in Bosnia this evening (Thursday), Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe TD, said that in order for advances to be made towards membership of the European Union for Bosnia and Herzegovina a credible effort would have to be made by political leaders on all sides (see full speech below).

Fine Gael Cork South West TD, Jim Daly, has received confirmation from the Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn TD, that he has agreed to have ‘Politics and Society’ taught as a subject at Leaving Certificate level.

I wish to thank the Senator for raising this matter on the adjournment today. I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence who regrets that he is unable to be present due to other business.